News & Observer cartoonist Dwane Powell, who has poked, skewered and lampooned political figures and issues for 35 years, retires today.

Powell, who turns 65 this week, drew more than 8,000 editorial cartoons that pointed out the foibles, the contradictions and affectations of the state's elected leaders, Rob Christensen reports.

"It's amazing," said Gary Pearce, a longtime Democratic operative. "With just a pen and a piece of paper, he could come closer to the truth about politics and politicians than thousands of words. He could really just nail you. Even when he did, you just had to laugh."

Steve Ford, editorial page editor for The N&O, said there were no immediate plans to replace Powell.

In 2007, the N&O put together a video featuring Powell's take on some of his memorable cartoons.

Everywhere you looked at the Raleigh Convention Center this weekend there was a photograph of former Raleigh Mayor Tom Fetzer with evangelist Billy Graham and his son, Franklin Graham.

With the state GOP convention including quite a few religious conservatives, Fetzer was attempting to connect himself with two of North Carolina's favorite sons as he ran for, and won, the state party chairman's race. The photographs stirred grumbling among a few delegates who thought Fetzer was implying that the Grahams had endorsed his candidacy for chairman.

Of course, the Grahams don't get involved in local political fights.  

Who has received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine?

Retired Raleigh businessman Tom Walter would like to know, but so far no one in state government can help him.

Walter received the state award in 1991 from Gov. Jim Martin. A few years ago, he wondered who else had received it, but Gov. Mike Easley's office told him they had no idea.

"They said maybe it's in a warehouse in a building somewhere, but we don't know," he said.

The award was created in 1965 to honor special achievements by North Carolinians. Past recipients include Maya Angelou, Billy Graham and Michael Jordan. And one rough estimate is that 7,000 people have received the award.

Walter's unofficial registry includes fewer than a hundred names he gleaned from talking to friends and searching obituaries. He's looking for people who have received the order or can help in his search for information.

He can be reached at walterfinancial@yahoo.com, or you can post a note below.

Update: You can nominate yourself or a friend for the Order with this form.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole is no longer on the list.

The Salisbury Republican had made the top 10 list of most admired women in the world 11 times, according to a survey by Gallup done every year since 1948.

She even bragged about it in an ad during her Senate run this year.

But Dole had slipped in recent years, landing in ninth place in 2005 and falling below 1 percent of respondents in 2007.

On this year's survey, she was again below one half of one percent of respondents, along with eight other women who did not make the top 10.  

Meantime, former Sen. John Edwards, who received one percent in 2004, fell off the list entirely.

Still going strong is Rev. Billy Graham, who tied for fourth place with Pope Benedict XVI and Bill Clinton. 

Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue delivered "Happy Birthday!" wishes on behalf of the state to Rev. Billy Graham at his 90th birthday party Thursday night.

Perdue was among about 500 attendees at a dinner at The Greenbrier resort in White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia, and she spoke briefly, praising Graham and offering the state's good wishes.

"He has given strength to millions, including me, in times of trial," Perdue told the crowd, according to a copy of her remarks, "built mountains of faith in times of uncertainty, shared times of happiness, and has been there for any and all seeking a new beginning through belief."

Perdue and her husband, Robert Eaves, also attended a private reception before the dinner. Her spokeswoman, Chrissy Pearson, said she is not a close friend of Graham but has met with him over the years and admired him.

John McCain has made few visits to North Carolina.

While Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has spoken to crowds totaling 169,050 in almost all of the major metropolitan areas of the state, McCain has come here only a handful of times.

McCain has also held mostly smaller speeches and meetings instead of the larger rallies held by Obama, though as Election Day neared he's held more rallies.

In all, McCain has spoken to about 17,900 people.

Before Primary:

Charlotte, May 5: McCain gave a speech on foreign policy before a crowd of 200 at the Charlotte Chamber.

Greensboro, May 5: McCain gave a speech on his judicial philosophy before "a large crowd of students" at Wake Forest University.

After Primary:

Montreat, June 29: McCain met privately with Rev. Billy Graham and his son Franklin at their retreat, Little Piney Cove.

Wilmington, Oct. 14: McCain gave a speech at a rally of 2,500 at Cape Fear Community College.

Concord, Oct. 18: McCain spoke to 7,000 at a rally in Concord.

Fayetteville, Oct. 28: McCain spoke to 8,200. 

After the jump, the pool report on John McCain's visit with Billy Graham.

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John McCain met with Billy and Franklin Graham this weekend.

The Republican presidential candidate visited privately with the noted 89-year-old evangelist and his son at a mountaintop retreat on the grounds of Little Piney Cove in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

"We had a very excellent conversation. I appreciated the opportunity to visit with them," McCain said after the 45-minute meeting.

Although McCain and Billy Graham are acquaintances, it was the first time that they had a sit-down meeting.

Franklin Graham said that his father told a story about meeting McCain's father, a Navy admiral, on a trip to Vietnam while McCain was held as a prisoner of war. The two prayed for John McCain during his captivity.

Franklin Graham said he was not endorsing anyone for president. (AP) Country singer Ricky Skaggs arrived about a half-hour after McCain. (NYT)

North Carolina and Indiana's primaries are today. How do they compare? 

North Carolina has 8.9 million residents; Indiana, 6.3 million.

North Carolina is 21.7 percent black; Indiana, 8.9 percent.

North Carolina is 48,711 square miles; Indiana, 35,867.

Bush won both states in the 2004 election.

The last time Democratic presidential candidate to win Indiana was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The last Democrat to win North Carolina was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

North Carolina has 115 delegates up for grabs and Indiana has 72.

North Carolina race fans go to Lowe's Motor Speedway. Indiana's fans go to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

North Carolina's biggest industry is banking, with the headquarters of Bank of America, Wachovia and BB&T headquartered there. Indiana's industry is health care products and drugs, with the headquarters of Eli Lilly and Co., Anthem and Guidant.

Both states have a rich basketball tradition. Indiana has Larry Bird, Notre Dame, Butler and Purdue. North Carolina has Michael Jordan, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University and N.C. State.

Famous Hoosiers include David Letterman, John Mellencamp and Steve McQueen. Famous Tar Heels include Billy Graham, Andy Griffith and Thomas Wolfe.

Pat McCrory will hold his first major fundraiser Wednesday.

The Republian gubernatorial candidate's new campaign manager, Jack Hawke, said the event has already drawn $400,000 in contributions, the Charlotte Observer reports.

That's roughly the amount of money that McCrory transferred from his mayoral campaign when he first announced his run for governor. 

Among the headliners: Bank of America chief Ken Lewis, Duke Energy head Ellen Ruff, Charlotte Bobcats part-owner Skipper Beck; Showmars restaurants founder George Couchell; NASCAR driver Brian Vickers; and NASCAR team owners Ray Evernham, Rick Hendrick and Felix Sabates. 

The event will be held at the home of developer Mel Graham, the nephew of the Rev. Billy Graham. 

The campaign will not have to report its total contributions for two months.